Connecting Toronto

June 30, 2017

TTC is #1 in North America!

This week (June 26), I was delighted to announce that the TTC has won recognition from its industry peers for the work we have done over the past five years to modernize the TTC and to transform service.

The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) has awarded the TTC the accolade of Outstanding Public Transit System for 2017, an award that the TTC has only won once before, back in the mid 1980s.

In choosing the TTC, APTA reserved special praise for the ambition, complexity and delivery of our Five-Year Corporate Plan, launched in 2013, and for our bold vision of “a transit system that makes Toronto proud” that we created to give the organization a common goal.

In announcing the award, alongside TTC Chair, Josh Colle, I acknowledged that there is more to do to further improve service, reduce crowding and drive up reliability. Recent investment in service has helped, for which we are grateful to City Council and the Mayor.

This award was not won purely on increased funding, however. It came about largely through the sheer effort and professionalism of the 14,000 men and women of the TTC that have worked so hard over the past five years to get us to where we are today.

In thanking you, our riders for your ongoing support and patience while we continue to upgrade the system, I dedicate the Transit of the Year award to my colleagues, the wonderful people of the TTC that strive day in and day, out to keep Toronto moving.

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Saturday, July 1st, is Canada Day! Happy 150th anniversary to this fantastic country and if you are out riding with us this weekend, have fun and enjoy all the celebrations this great city has to offer.

IN REVIEW: Line 3 Scarborough Closure

Last weekend, Line 3 was closed for state-of-good-repair and life extension work. The time allowed TTC crews to complete essential rail maintenance and rehabilitation work including:

Drilling 12 anchors

Replacing 800 m of power rail

Installing 150 m of heating cable for new power rail

Grinding 950 m of running rail

Breaker and cabling work for Wi-Fi and PRESTO

Thank you for your patience as we complete work that will make the TTC more modern, efficient and safer.

Service Alerts - Canada 150

Canada celebrates its 150th anniversary this weekend, which means there will be plenty of fun events happening around our city.

Here’s how to get to this weekend’s festivities.

Nathan Phillips Square: June 30 - July 3 100 Queen St. West

Take Line 1 to Osgoode or Queen stations

Mel Lastman Square: July 1 5100 Yonge Street

Take Line 1 to North York Centre Station

Humber Bay Park West: July 1 2225 Lake Shore Boulevard West

There will be a Humber Bay Park West shuttle bus to and from Old Mill Station

Amesbury Park: July 1 1507 Lawrence Avenue West

Take Line 1 to Lawrence West Station, then take the 52 Lawrence West bus service towards Pearson Airport

Downsview Park: July 1 35 Carl Hall Road

From Sheppard West Station, take the 101 Downsview Park or 84 Sheppard West bus service. Extra service will be provided on these routes.

Harbourfront Centre: July 1 253 Queens Quay West

Take the 509 Harbourfront or 510 Spadina. Extra service will be provided on both of these routes.

The following routes will divert at different times throughout the weekend:

6 Bay

501 Queen

21 Brimley

22 Coxwell

92 Woodbine South

5 Avenue Rd

94 Wellesley

129 McCowan North

87 Cosburn

This Canada Day long weekend, customers can also take advantage of unlimited one-day travel from Sat., July 1 to Mon., July 3, with the TTC’s Group/Family Day Pass for just $12.50.

Be sure to visit ttc.ca to plan your trip, and get up-to-the-minute advisories by following @ttcnotices on Twitter or subscribing to TTC eAlerts.

Employee Profile

Name: Bernard SloanPosition: Bus OperatorYears of service: 33

I started driving Wheel-Trans vehicles in 1984 and a few years later I began working as a TTC bus operator doing late relief. Having been here for such a long time, I know all the routes out of Wilson Division and I’ve had some memorable experiences, including working during the 2003 blackout and the Pope’s visit to Toronto. No matter what I’m doing, I really love working here. But I especially enjoy mentoring. I believe I’ve mentored more than 1,000 operators in the past 20 years or so. Every time I work with a new driver, I explain the importance of taking your bus for a drive before you start so you get a feel for it. I also tell them that this job is what you make of it; if you come in with a bad attitude, it’s going to rub off on your coworkers and your customers. Always come in with a smile on your face.

Service Alerts

Ask TTC

Hello, Who were the musicians playing at the southwest corner of Queen’s Park subway station on June 8? They were playing accordion and saxophone and were outstanding. They were selling CDs. Thank you, I

Answer: Dear I — Many thanks for your interest in our subway musicians program. The musicians you are interested in are Alexey Chekalev on Alto Saxophone/Clarinet and Eduard Kagansky on Accordion. For more than 35 years, the TTC’s Subway Musicians Program has enhanced customer journeys and brought exposure to hundreds of local musicians. Seventy-five licensed musical acts perform on a rotating basis at 25 dedicated spaces throughout the subway system. Current and past subway musicians have included Juno award winners, Royal Conservatory of Music graduates, symphony performers and published musicians. For more information on the subway musician program, including musician profiles, see the “Business with the TTC” page.

Have a question? Email your question to askTTC@ttc.ca and have it answered in a future Connecting Toronto page!